A Blackbird with bite
11 April 2008


Some actors like to remain within their comfort zone, but Robert Daws has done anything but that in his latest stage venture.

The 49-year-old actor is a familiar face on British television, with many credits to his name including The Royal, Roger Roger and Jeeves and Wooster, but now he returns to the stage for only the second time in 18 years. Not only that, he has decided to take on something of a controversial role in David Harrower's award-winning play, Blackbird, which arrives soon in Oxford and Windsor.

Robert plays Ray, a man who finds himself confronted by Una (Dawn Steele), a 27-year-old woman he has not seen in 15 years.

As the play progresses, it becomes evident they had a brief, sexual affair when he was 40 and she was just 12. Ray was imprisoned for his part in this illegal relationship, but he now feels justified in trying to move his life on.

In contrast, Una is still suffering from the consequences of their illicit love.

"I read it and was immediately scared of it," Robert tells me. "I was scared because the subject matter was so alien and huge, but aside from that, it's one of the most difficult plays just in terms of the language, which is all jagged and taut with emotion.

"I just kept thinking I can't do this, but it's such a brilliant play and a gift of a part, so I'm very glad now I took up the challenge."

Robert, who is married to actress Amy Robbins, his co-star in The Royal, says his decision to return to the stage was equally challenging.

"Certainly in the past two decades I've done mostly television," explains Robert. "I didn't expect it to be like that, but we don't plan our careers - as actors, we just take the roles as they come along.

"I decided to take a chance on Blackbird, but the demands on us are huge, especially as it's a two-hander.

"Not only that, the theatre really is so different from television.

"You learn things very quickly for the cameras, but with this you actually have to retain it! And I can tell you, it's a monster of a play to learn."

Originally premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2005, Blackbird has since enjoyed critically successful runs in the West End and off-Broadway, and took the Laurence Olivier Award in 2007 for Best New Play.

Last December, the play premiered with the Sydney Theatre Company, with actress Cate Blanchett in the director's chair.

"I think the beauty of Blackbird is that it certainly confuses as much as it enlightens."
Robert Daws

David Harrower was inspired to write the play after reading the true story of Toby Studebaker, an American marine who ran away with an under-age girl he had encountered in an internet chat room.

David says: "I'm not sure if people feel entertained by Blackbird or just hit in the face, but I do want them to see something they would want to talk about afterwards.

"There aren't necessarily any conclusions drawn by the end, but for me it's as important the grey areas are explored."

"One 12-year-old might play with Barbies, but another might strive to connect emotionally with adults."

Robert agrees the play is perhaps at times uncomfortable subject matter provokes very different responses from the audience.

"Some people can't give Ray any sympathy because of what he's done, but others are able to.

"In my view, he's a man who's committed a heinous act and maybe he's paid the price, but then Una returns and it's like the whole thing is coming back to haunt him again. In some ways, he's like a caged animal by the end.

"I think the beauty of Blackbird is that it certainly confuses as much as it enlightens."

Dawn Steele, who plays Una, feels equally strongly about the "brilliant" Blackbird.

The Scottish-born star of Monarch Of The Glen and Sea Of Souls says: "I've done plenty of theatre, but this play is just completely different. You can't even compare it to others out there at the moment. That's how I knew I just had to do it."

She adds: "My character, Una, sees this photograph of Ray so many years later and something inside her just starts to unravel.

"There are still so many things she doesn't know, including exactly what happened at Ray's trial.

"Underneath all this is love, and it's one that is still there, despite the fact that it's perhaps a very odd love. But it does happen, and that's what makes this play so powerful and moving."

Blackbird arrives at Oxford Playhouse from Tuesday, April 22 to Saturday, April 26 (tickets: 01865 305305) and Theatre Royal Windsor from Monday, May 5 to Saturday, May 10 (tickets: 01753 853888)

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